Historical Birthday
12 Jan 1483
Count Henry III of Nassau-Breda Stadholder of Holland and Zeeland 1515-1521 (d. 1538)
12 Jan 1579
Jan Baptist van Helmont Flemish chemist (found boiling point temperature)
12 Jan 1580
Lord Alexander Ruthven Scottish nobleman (d. 1600)
12 Jan 1591
Jos RiberaJusepe de Ribera Spanish painter and printmaker nicknamed Lo Spagnoletto (d. 1652)
12 Jan 1597
Franois Duquesnoy French sculptor (d. 1643)
12 Jan 1638
Ernst R Tarhemberg Austrian fieldmarshal (Turkish Wars)
12 Jan 1715
Jacques Duphly French composer and harpsichordist born in Rouen (d. 1789)
12 Jan 1721
Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick Prussian general (d. 1792)
12 Jan 1723
Samuel Langdon American college educator (d. 1797)
12 Jan 1729
Edmund Burke British author (Philosophy & Inquiry) [OSJan 1]
12 Jan 1729
Lazzaro Spallanzani Modena Italy physiologist
12 Jan 1746
Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi Swiss educator (Leonard & Gertrude) born in Zurich Switzerland (d. 1827)
12 Jan 1749
Ferdinand Trauttmansdorff Austrian earlprincediplomat
12 Jan 1751
Ferdinand I king of Sicily & Naples. (d. 1825)
12 Jan 1772
Count Mikhail Speransky Russian reformer (d. 1839)
12 Jan 1780
Wilhelm M L de Wette German exegetisttheologist
12 Jan 1783
Erik Gustaf Geijer Swedish historianpoet (Natthimmelen)
12 Jan 1786
Sir Robert Inglis Bt English politician (d. 1855)
12 Jan 1792
Robert Patterson Irish-American Major General (Union Army) born in Cappagh County Tyrone Ireland (d. 1881)
12 Jan 1792
Johan August Arfwedson Swedish chemist (d. 1841)
12 Jan 1801
Louise Sophie Bluss Dutch author born in Leiden Holland (d. 1896)
12 Jan 1808
Paul the Great Taglioni ballet choreographer born in Vienna Austria
12 Jan 1814
Jones Mitchell Withers Mjr General (Confederate Army) (d. 1890)
12 Jan 1819
Zealous Bates Tower American Brevet Major General (Union Army) born in Cohasset Massachusetts (d. 1900)
12 Jan 1825
Joseph Robert Davis Brigadier General (Confederate Army) (d. 1896)
12 Jan 1826
Charles Cruft American teacher lawyer railroad executive and Brevet Major General (Union Army) born in Terre Haute Indiana (d. 1883)
12 Jan 1832
Richard Waterhouse Jr Brigadier General (Confederate Army) (d. 1876)
12 Jan 1852
Joseph J C Joffre French fieldmarshal (Indo China Marne)
12 Jan 1853
Gregorio Ricci-Curbastro Italian mathematician (tensor analysis)
12 Jan 1856
John Singer Sargent American painter (Wyndham Sisters) born in Florence Italy (d. 1925)
12 Jan 1860
Henry Larkin American baseball player (d. 1942)
12 Jan 1861
James Mark Baldwin American Philosopher and Psychologist born in Columbia South Carolina
12 Jan 1863
Swami Vivekananda Indian Hindu spiritual leader and a key figure in the introduction of Yoga to the Western world born in Kolkata India (d. 1902)
12 Jan 1873
Spiridon Louis Greek marathon runner and soldier (First modern Olympics marathon winner) born in Marousi Greece (d. 1940)
12 Jan 1875
Marika Stiernstedt Swedish author (Ulla Bella)
12 Jan 1876
Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari composer born in Venice Italy
12 Jan 1876
Jack London American writersocialist (Call of the Wild) born in San Francisco (d. 1916)
12 Jan 1878
Ferenc Molnar HungarianUS playwright (A Pal Utrai Fiuk)
12 Jan 1879
Ray Harroun American race car driver (d. 1968)
12 Jan 1882
Milton Sills American actor (The Sea Hawk) born in Chicago Illinois (d. 1930)
12 Jan 1884
Louis Horst American dance choreographer and composer born in Kansas City Missouri (d. 1964)
12 Jan 1884
Texas Guinan American actress (The Gun Woman) born in Waco Texas (d. 1933)
12 Jan 1890
Mordecai Wyatt Johnson pastor and educator born in Paris Tennessee (d. 1976)
12 Jan 1892
Mikhail Gurevich Russian aircraft designer (d. 1976)
12 Jan 1893
Alfred Rosenberg German Nazi official (d. 1946)
12 Jan 1894
Georges Carpentier French boxer (world light heavyweight champion 1st 1m gate v J Dempsey) born in Lievin France (d. 1975)
12 Jan 1896
David Wechsler American psychologist (d. 1981)
12 Jan 1897
Hendrik J Valk paintercartoonistgraphic artist
12 Jan 1899
Paul H Muller Swiss chemist (DDT-Nobel 1948) born in Olten Switzerland (d. 1965)
12 Jan 1899
Pierre Bernac French baritone born in Paris France (d. 1979)
12 Jan 1900
Vaino Hannikainen Finnish composer born in Jyvskyl Finland (d. 1960)
12 Jan 1915
Paul Jarrico American writer born in Los Angeles California (d. 1997)
12 Jan 1915
Joseph-Aurle Plourde Catholic archbishop of Ottawa born in Saint-Franois-de-Madawaska Canada (d. 2013)
12 Jan 1916
Jay McShann American jazz pianist & bandleader born in Muskogee Oklahoma (d. 2006)
12 Jan 1916
William Pleeth British cellist born in London United Kingdom (d. 1999)
12 Jan 1916
House Peters Jr. American actor (King of the Rocket Man) born in New Rochelle New York (d. 2008)
12 Jan 1917
Walter Hendl American conductor & composer born in West New York New Jersey (d. 2007)
12 Jan 1917
Jimmy Skinner Canadian hockey coach born in Selkirk Canada (d. 2007)
12 Jan 1917
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Indian guru born in Jabalpur India (d. 2008)
12 Jan 1902
Ray Teal American actor (Judgment at Nuremberg Bonanza) born in Grand Rapids Michigan (d. 1976)
12 Jan 1902
Simon Spoor Dutch military officer born in Amsterdam Netherlands (d. 1949)
12 Jan 1903
Igor Kurchatov Russian nuclear physicist born in Sim Chelyabinsk Oblast Russia (d. 1960)
12 Jan 1904
Mississippi Fred McDowell American jazz artist born in Rossville Tennessee (d. 1972)
12 Jan 1905
James Bennett Griffin American archaeologist born in Bethesda Maryland (d. 1997)
12 Jan 1906
Tex Ritter American country singer (5 Star Jubilee Wayward Wind) born in Murvaul Texas (d. 1974)
12 Jan 1907
Sergei Korolev Soviet rocket engineer & spacecraft designer born in Zhytomyr Ukraine (d. 1966)
12 Jan 1908
Jose Limon Mexican-American dancer & choreographer (I Odysseus) born in Culiacn Mexico (d. 1972)
12 Jan 1908
Clement Hurd American illustrator born in New York City New York (d. 1988)
12 Jan 1909
Mauritz Hugo Swedish actor (Atomic Blonde Death Valley Gunfighter) born in Ostergotland Sweden (d. 1974)
12 Jan 1910
Patsy Kelly American actress (Rosemarys Baby North Ave Irregulars) born in Brooklyn New York (d. 1981)
12 Jan 1914
Edward John Gurney American politician US senator (1969-74) born in Portland Maine (d. 1996)
12 Jan 1915
Ernest Armstrong British politician (L) & teacher born in Stanley County Durham (d. 1996)
12 Jan 1915
Frank Annunzio American politician (Rep-D-IL 1965- ) born in Chicago Illinois (d. 2001)
12 Jan 1915
Roy Ralston British pilot born in Moss Side Manchester
12 Jan 1915
Martin Agronsky American journalist (1952 Peabody 1961 DuPont-Columbia) born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania (d. 1999)
12 Jan 1920
James Farmer American civil rights leader born in Marshall Texas (d. 1999)
12 Jan 1920
Prof Jerzy Zubrzycki Polish-born Australian sociologist born in Krakw Poland (d. 2009)
12 Jan 1921
John Henry Davis Jr American weightlifter (Olym-gold-1948 52) born in Smithtown New York
12 Jan 1921
Leo Smit Dutch composer born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania (d. 1943)
12 Jan 1922
Tadeusz ychiewicz Polish journalist and art historian born in Bratkowice Poland (d. 1994)
12 Jan 1923
Ira Hayes Pima Native American soldier born in Sacaton Arizona (d. 1955)
12 Jan 1924
Jan Willem Radecker Dutch sculptor & son of John Raedecker born in Schoorl Netherlands (d. 2009)
12 Jan 1925
Bill Burrud American television host (Safari to Adventure Animal World) born in Hollywood California (d. 1990)
12 Jan 1925
Laurentiu Profeta Romanian composer born in Bucharest Romania (d. 2006)
12 Jan 1925
Ralph Legall West Indian cricket wicket-keeper (WI v India 1954) born in St Michael Barbados (d. 2003)
12 Jan 1925
Katherine Scottie MacGregor American actress (Little House on the Prairie) born in Glendale California (d. 2018)
12 Jan 1926
Morton Feldman American composer born in New York City New York (d. 1987)
12 Jan 1926
Ray Price American country singer (Good Times) born in Perryville Texas (d. 2013)
12 Jan 1927
Salvatore Martirano American composer born in Yonkers New York (d. 1995)
12 Jan 1928
Lew Gallo American character actor & screen writer (Get Smart Gunsmoke 12 OClock High) born in Mount Kisco New York (d. 2000)
12 Jan 1928
Ruth Brown American actress & singer sometimes known as the Queen of R&B (So Long Teardrops from My Eyes) born in Portsmouth Virginia (d. 2006)
12 Jan 1928
Vic Toweel South African boxer (undisputed world bantamweight champion) born in Benoni South Africa (d. 2008)
12 Jan 1929
Alasdair MacIntyre Scottish-born American philosopher born in Glasgow United Kingdom
12 Jan 1930
Glenn Yarborough American folk singer & guitarist (Limeliters-Honey & Wine Jubilee) born in Milwaukee Wisconsin (d. 2016)
12 Jan 1930
Jennifer Johnston Irish author (Fools sanctuary) born in Dublin Ireland
12 Jan 1932
Alain Teister Dutch writer born in Amsterdam Netherlands (d. 1979)
12 Jan 1932
Des OConnor British television presenter born in Stepney London
12 Jan 1933
Michael Aspel English television presenter born in Battersea London
12 Jan 1934
Mick Sullivan English rugby league footballer born in Pudsey England (d. 2016)
12 Jan 1935
Kreskin American mentalist born in Montclair New Jersey
12 Jan 1935
Ron Harper American actor (Wendy & Me Planet of the Apes) born in Turtle Creek Pennsylvania
12 Jan 1935
William Lee Gloden American country music singer (Oak Ridge Boys) born in Brewton Alabama
12 Jan 1937
Liliana Cavani Italian director (Berlin Affair) born in Carpi Italy
12 Jan 1937
Marie Dubois French actress (Wise Guys Jules & Jim) born in Paris France (d. 2014)
12 Jan 1937
Vicente Sardinero Spanish baritone born in Barcelona Spain (d. 2002)
12 Jan 1938
Lewis Fiander Australian actor born in Melbourne Australia (d. 2016)
12 Jan 1939
Helmut Eisendle Austrian writer born in Graz Austria (d. 2003)
12 Jan 1939
Jacques Hamelink Dutch writer & poet (Cold Unrest) born in Terneuzen Netherlands
12 Jan 1940
Dick Motz New Zealand cricketer (1st NZer to take 100 Test wickets) born in Christchurch New Zealand (d. 2007)
12 Jan 1941
Jaime Fuster American politician (Rep-D-PR 1985- ) born in Guayama Puerto Rico (d. 2007)
12 Jan 1941
Long John Baldry English blues vocalist (Dont try to Lay No Boogie) born in East Haddon United Kingdom
12 Jan 1942
Vladimir Sergeyevich Kozelsky cosmonaut (Soyuz 24 backup)
12 Jan 1942
Bernardine Dohrn former leader of the Weather Underground born in Milwaukee Wisconsin
12 Jan 1944
Vlastimil Hort Czechoslovak-born German chess player born in Kladno Czech Republic
12 Jan 1944
Hans Henning Atrott Prussian euthanasia advocate born in Klaipda Lithuania
12 Jan 1944
Viktoria Postnikova Russian pianist born in Moscow Russia
12 Jan 1944
Carlos Villagrn Mexican actor born in Santiago de Quertaro Mexico
12 Jan 1945
Maggie Bell Scottish rock vocalist born in Glasgow Scotland
12 Jan 1946
Cynthia Robinson American musician (Sly & Family Stone-Everyday People) born in Sacramento California (d. 2015)
12 Jan 1946
George Duke American keyboard pioneer & composer born in San Rafael California (d. 2013)
12 Jan 1946
Lady Cosgrove Scottish lawyer & judge born in Glasgow Scotland
12 Jan 1947
Tom Dempsey American NFL record-holder (longest field goal 63 yards) born in Milwaukee Wisconsin
12 Jan 1948
Anthony Andrews English actor (Under the Volcano) born in London England
12 Jan 1948
Kenny Allen English footballer born in Fenton Michigan
12 Jan 1948
Khalid Abdul Muhammed American Nation of Islam spokesman born in Houston Texas (d. 2001)
12 Jan 1948
William Nicholson English writer born in Lewes United Kingdom
12 Jan 1948
John Etheridge British guitarist (Soft Machine) born in Lambeth England
12 Jan 1949
James Dietz American rower born in The Bronx New York
12 Jan 1949
Wayne Wang American film director (Chan is Missing Slamdance) born in Hong Kong
12 Jan 1949
Kentaro Haneda Japanese composer born in Tokyo Japan (d. 2007)
12 Jan 1949
Ottmar Hitzfeld German football manager born in Lrrach Germany
12 Jan 1949
Michael W. Vannier American radiologist born in Hamilton City California
12 Jan 1950
Bob McEwen American politician (Rep-R-OH 1981-93) born in Hillsboro Ohio
12 Jan 1950
Marilyn Smith American microbiologist born in Americus Georgia
12 Jan 1950
Sheila Jackson Lee American politician born in New York City New York
12 Jan 1950
Gran Lindblad Swedish politician born in Gothenburg Sweden
12 Jan 1950
Dorrit Moussaieff Israeli jewellery designer & businesswoman born in Jerusalem Israel
12 Jan 1951
Bill Madlock American MLB player (Chicago Cubs) born in Memphis Tennessee
12 Jan 1951
Chris Bell American rock guitarist (Big Star) born in Memphis Tennessee
12 Jan 1951
Drew Pearson American NFL wide receiver born in South River New Jersey
12 Jan 1951
Kirstie Alley American actress (Star Trek II Cheers-Rebecca) born in Wichita Kansas
12 Jan 1951
Larry Hoppens American musician (Orleans-Still the One Dance With Me) born in Long Island New York (d. 2012)
12 Jan 1951
Rush Limbaugh American right wing radio personality born in Cape Girardeau Missouri
12 Jan 1951
Ann Althouse American law professor born in Wilmington Delaware
12 Jan 1952
Ricky Van Shelton American country musician born in Danville Virginia
12 Jan 1952
Charles Faulkner American motivational speaker & author born in St. Clair Shores Michigan
12 Jan 1952
Walter Mosley American novelist born in Los Angeles California
12 Jan 1955
Rockne S. OBannon American screenwriter born in Los Angeles California
12 Jan 1957
John Lasseter American animation director (Pixar) born in Hollywood California
12 Jan 1958
Curt Fraser American ice hockey coach born in Cincinnati Ohio
12 Jan 1959
Per Helmstad Gessle Swedish singer (Roxette-Must Have Been Love) born in Halmstad Sweden
12 Jan 1959
Blixa Bargeld German singer & musician (Einstrzende Neubauten Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds) born in West Berlin
12 Jan 1959
Lasana M. Sekou Caribbean poet & author (The Salt Reaper) born in Aruba
12 Jan 1960
Dominique Wilkins American NBA forward (Atlanta Hawks) born in Paris France
12 Jan 1960
Rob Derksen Australian baseball head coach (Olympics 1996) born in Hales Corner Wisconsin (d. 2004)
12 Jan 1960
Oliver Platt Canadian actor born in Windsor Canada
12 Jan 1961
Andrea Carnevale Italian soccer player (Napoli) born in Monte San Biagio Italy
12 Jan 1962
Richie Richardson West Indies cricketer (elegant West Indian batsman 1983-95) born in Five Islands Village Antigua and Barbuda
12 Jan 1962
Joe Quesada American comic book writer born in New York City New York
12 Jan 1963
Franois Girard French-Canadian film director and screenwriter born in Saint-Flicien Quebec
12 Jan 1964
Laura Gildemeister Argentina tennis star born in Crdoba Argentina
12 Jan 1965
Henry Thomas American defensive tackle (Detroit Lions New England Patriots) born in Houston Texas
12 Jan 1965
Mark Moore British dance music record producer & DJ (SExpress-Winter Course) born in London United Kingdom
12 Jan 1965
Rob Zombie American musician & filmmaker born in Haverhill Massachusetts
12 Jan 1837
Carlos Troyer American composer born in Frankfurt Germany (d. 1920)
12 Jan 1873
Spyridon Louis Greek distance runner soldier (winner first modern Olympics marathon 1896) born in Marousi Greece (d. 1940)
12 Jan 1908
Clement Hurd American illustrator born in NYC New York (d. 1988)
12 Jan 1924
Olivier Gendebien Belgian auto racer (24 hours of Le Mans 1958 60-62) born in Brussels Belgium (d. 1998)
12 Jan 1925
Ralph Legall West Indian cricket wicket-keeper (4 Tests) born in St Michael Barbados (d. 2003)
12 Jan 1926
Morton Feldman American composer born in NYC New York (d. 1987)
12 Jan 1932
John Berg American art director born in Brooklyn New York City (d. 2015)
12 Jan 1942
Vladimir Sergeyevich Kozelsky Russian cosmonaut (Soyuz 24 backup) born in Aleksandrovskoye Stavropol kray Soviet Union
12 Jan 1942
Michael Mayor Swiss astrophysicist (discovered 1st exoplanet) 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics born in Lausanne Switzerland
12 Jan 1944
Jack Schroer British saxophonist & pianist (The Caledonia Soul Orchestra) (d. 1995)
12 Jan 1950
Sheila Jackson Lee American politician born in NYC New York
12 Jan 1962
Gunde Svan Swedish cross country skier (4 Olympic gold 1984 88) born in Jrna Sweden
12 Jan 1962
Joe Quesada American comic book writer born in NYC New York
12 Jan 1861
James Mark Baldwin American philosopher & psychologist born in Columbia South Carolina (d. 1934)
12 Jan 1870
Karel Burian (also Carl Burrian)Czech operatic tenor born in Rousnov Moravia Austrian Empire (d. 1924)
12 Jan 1905
James Bennett Griffin American archaeologist born in Atchison Kansas (d. 1997)
12 Jan 1912
Charles Moeller Belgian theologist (Humanism et saintete) born in Brussels Belgium (d. 1986)
12 Jan 1915
Frank Annunzio American politician (Rep-D-IL 1965-93) born in Chicago Illinois (d. 2001)
12 Jan 1926
Morton Feldman American composer (For Philip Guston Rothko Chapel) born in NYC New York (d. 1987)
12 Jan 1928
Lew Gallo American character actor & screenwriter (Get Smart Gunsmoke 12 OClock High) born in Mount Kisco New York (d. 2000)
12 Jan 1929
Alasdair MacIntyre Scottish-born American philosopher born in Glasgow Scotland
12 Jan 1932
Des OConnor British television presenter singer and comedian born in Stepney London (d. 2020)
12 Jan 1941
Long John Baldry English blues vocalist (Dont try to Lay No Boogie) born in East Haddon United Kingdom (d. 2005)
12 Jan 1947
Tom Dempsey American NFL kicker (Pro Bowl First-team All-Pro 1969 New Orleans Saints longest winning field goal 63 yards) born in Milwaukee Wisconsin (d. 2020)
12 Jan 1730
Johann Joachim Christoph Bode German bassoonist and composer born in Barum Electorate of Brunswick-Lneburg (now Germany) (d. 1793)
12 Jan 1737
Brizio Petrucci Italian composer born in Massalom-barda Ravenna Papal State (d. 1838)
12 Jan 1804
Hippolyte Monpou French organist and opera composer born in Paris (d. 1841)
12 Jan 1837
Adolf Jensen German pianist composer and teacher born in Knigsberg Prussian (now Kaliningrad Russia) (d. 1879)
12 Jan 1876
Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari Italian light opera composer born in Venice Kingdom of Italy (d. 1948)
12 Jan 1878
Ferenc Molnar Hungarian American playwright (A Pal Utrai Fiuk) and novelist (The Paul Street Boys) born in Budapest Austria-Hungary (d. 1952)
12 Jan 1879
Ray Harroun American auto racer (inaugural Indianapolis 500 1911 Motorsports Hall of Fame of America 2000) born in Spartansburg Pennsylvania (d. 1968)
12 Jan 1884
(Mary Louise) Texas Guinan American vaudeville singer silent film actress and speakeasy (saloon) proprietor born in Waco Texas (d. 1933)
12 Jan 1904
Mississippi Fred McDowell American blues singer and guitarist born in Rossville Tennessee (d. 1972)
12 Jan 1906
(Woodward) Tex Ritter American country singer (5 Star Jubilee Wayward Wind) born in Murvaul Texas (d. 1974)
12 Jan 1907
Sergei Korolev Soviet Russian rocket engineer & spacecraft designer (Sputnik Voskhod) born in Zhytomyr Russian Empire (now Ukraine) (d. 1966)
12 Jan 1925
Katherine Scottie MacGregor American actress (Little House On The Prairie - Harriet Oleson) born in Glendale California (d. 2018)
12 Jan 1926
Morton Feldman American composer (For Philip Guston Rothko Chapel) born in NYC New York (d. 1987)
12 Jan 1932
John Berg American art director (Columbia Records 1961-85) winner of 4 Grammy Awards for album art born in Brooklyn New York City (d. 2015)
12 Jan 1940
Dick Motz New Zealand cricket all-rounder (32 Tests 100 wickets BB 663 Canterbury CA) born in Christchurch New Zealand (d. 2007)
12 Jan 1940
Ronald Shannon Jackson American avant-garde jazz and funk drummer and composer (Cecil Taylor Last Exit Decoding Society) born in Fort Worth Texas (d. 2013)
12 Jan 1941
Long John Baldry English blues vocalist (Dont Try to Lay No Boogie Woogie on the King of Rock and Roll) born in East Haddon United Kingdom (d. 2005)
12 Jan 1946
Cynthia Robinson American musician (Sly & Family Stone - Everyday People) born in Sacramento California (d. 2015)
12 Jan 1946
George Duke American Grammy Award-winning jazz and funk keyboard player and composer born in San Rafael California (d. 2013)
12 Jan 1951
Drew Pearson American Pro Football HOF wide receiver (Super Bowl 1977 Pro Bowl First-team All-Pro 1974 76 77 Dallas Cowboys) born in South River New Jersey
12 Jan 1951
Larry Hoppens American rock singer-songwriter and guitarist (Orleans - Still the One Dance With Me) born in Long Island New York (d. 2012)
12 Jan 1960
Dominique Wilkins American Basketball HOF forward (9 NBA All Star 198694 NBA scoring champion 1986 NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion 1985 90 Atlanta Hawks) born in Paris France
12 Jan 1492
Andreas Alicatus Italian jurist and humanist born in Alzate Brianza Duchy of Milan (d. 1550)
12 Jan 1562
Charles Emanuel I the Great Italian Duke of Savoy (Peace of Lyon) born in Rivoli Savoy (d. 1630)
12 Jan 1576
Peter Scriverius Dutch lawyer and historian born in Haarlem (d. 1660)
12 Jan 1579
Jan Baptist van Helmont Flemish chemist (found boiling point temperature) born in Brussels (d. 1644)
12 Jan 1599
Adrian van Utrecht Flemish still life painter born in Antwerp (d. 1652)
12 Jan 1638
Ernst Rdiger von Starhemberg Austrian field marshal (1683 successfully defended Vienna against Ottoman siege) born in Graz Styria (d. 1701)
12 Jan 1711
Gaetano Latilla Italian opera composer born in Bari (d. 1788)
12 Jan 1729
Lazzaro Spallanzani Italian physiologist and biologist born in Modena Italy (d. 1799)
12 Jan 1749
Ferdinand Trauttmansdorff Austrian diplomat and statesman (ruled Netherlands for Holy Roman Emperor) born in Vienna (d. 1827)
12 Jan 1751
Jacob Michael Reinhold Lenz Baltic German poet and dramatist (The Soldiers) born in Sesswegen Governorate of Livonia Russian Empire (d. 1792)
12 Jan 1780
Wilhelm Martin Leberecht de Wette German exegetist and theologist born in Ulla Thuringia (d. 1849)
12 Jan 1783
Erik Gustaf Geijer Swedish historian and poet (Natthimmelen) born in Geijersgrden Sweden (d. 1847)
12 Jan 1807
Jan Theodoor Beelen Dutch-Belgian bible scholar born in Amsterdam (d. 1884)
12 Jan 1808
Paul the Great Taglioni Italian-Austrian ballet choreographer born in Vienna Austria (d. 1884)
12 Jan 1810
Ferdinand II King of the Two Sicilies (1830-59) born in Palermo (d. 1859)
12 Jan 1821
Nikolai Afanisev Russian composer and violinist born in Tobolsk Russia (d. 1898)
12 Jan 1842
Francois Coppee French poet born in Paris (d. 1908)
12 Jan 1849
Jean Braud French Belle poque painter born in St. Petersburg Russia (d. 1935)
12 Jan 1852
Joseph Joffre French army Chief of Staff (Indo China WWI Battle of Marne) born in Rivesaltes France (d. 1931)
12 Jan 1853
Gregorio Ricci-Curbastro Italian mathematician (tensor analysis) born in Lugo di Romagna Italy (1925)
12 Jan 1871
Paul Guthnick German astronomer born in Hitdorf am Rhein (d. 1947)
12 Jan 1875
Marika Stiernstedt Swedish author (Ulla Bella) born in Stockholm Sweden (d. 1954)
12 Jan 1882
Jakob Jud Swiss linguist and etymologist born in Wngi Switzerland (d. 1952)
12 Jan 1888
Claude Delvincourt French composer and pianist born in Paris France (d. 1954)
12 Jan 1897
Hendrik Valk Dutch painter cartoonist and graphic artist (d. 1986)
12 Jan 1898
Jose Forns y Cuadras Spanish composer and teacher born in Madrid Spain (d. 1952)
12 Jan 1915
Roy Ralston British pilot (WWII bomber pilot) born in Moss Side Manchester (d. 1996)
12 Jan 1916
William Pleeth British cellist and teacher (of Jacqueline du Pr) born in London England (d. 1999)
12 Jan 1921
Leo Smit American classical pianist composer (The Alchemy of Love) teacher and photographer born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania (d. 1999)
12 Jan 1928
Ruth Brown American actress and singer sometimes known as the Queen of R&B (So Long Teardrops From My Eyes) born in Portsmouth Virginia (d. 2006)
12 Jan 1941
Jaime Fuster American politician (Rep-D-PR 1985-92) born in Guayama Puerto Rico (d. 2007)
12 Jan 1949
Wayne Wang American film director (Chan is Missing Slam Dance) born in Hong Kong
12 Jan 1951
Bill Madlock American MLB baseball third baseman 3X All-Star 4X NL Batting Title (Chicago Cubs Pittsburgh Pirates and 4 other teams) born in Memphis Tennessee
12 Jan 1951
Chris Bell American rock guitarist (Big Star - In The Street) born in Memphis Tennessee (d. 1978)
12 Jan 1951
Kirstie Alley American Emmy Award-winning actress (Cheers - Rebecca Look Whos Talking Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan) born in Wichita Kansas (d. 2022) [1]
12 Jan 1952
Charles Faulkner American motivational speaker and author born in St. Clair Shores Michigan
12 Jan 1959
Per Helmstad Gessle Swedish singer (Roxette - Must Have Been Love) born in Halmstad Sweden
12 Jan 1963
Franois Girard French Canadian film director and screenwriter born in Saint-Flicien Quebec
12 Jan 1729
Lazzaro Spallanzani Italian physiologist and biologist born in Modena Duchy of Modena and Reggio (now Italy) (d. 1799)
12 Jan 1749
Ferdinand Trauttmansdorff Austrian diplomat and statesman (ruled the Netherlands for Holy Roman Emperor) born in Vienna (d. 1827)
12 Jan 1786
Robert Inglis English Conservative politician known for his staunch high church views born in Snelston England (d. 1855)
12 Jan 1821
Nikolai Afanisev Russian composer and violinist born in Tobolsk Russia (d. 1898)
12 Jan 1853
Gregorio Ricci-Curbastro Italian mathematician (tensor analysis) born in Lugo di Romagna Italy (d. 1925)
12 Jan 1856
John Singer Sargent American painter (Wyndham Sisters) born in Florence Grand Duchy of Tuscany (now Italy) (d. 1925)
12 Jan 1861
James Mark Baldwin American philosopher and psychologist born in Columbia South Carolina (d. 1934)
12 Jan 1870
Karel Burian (also Carl Burrian) Czech operatic tenor born in Rousnov Moravia Austrian Empire (d. 1924)
12 Jan 1873
Spyridon Louis Greek distance runner who won the 1st modern Olympics marathon in 1896 born in Marousi Greece (d. 1940)
12 Jan 1876
Jack London American writer and socialist (Call of the Wild) born in San Francisco (d. 1916)
12 Jan 1877
Frank J. Corr American lawyer and politician (acting Mayor of Chicago for 6 weeks in 1933) born in Brooklyn New York (d. 1934)
12 Jan 1890
Mordecai Wyatt Johnson American pastor and educator born in Paris Tennessee (d. 1976)
12 Jan 1894
Georges Carpentier French boxer (world light heavyweight champion 1920-22 1st 1m gate v J Dempsey) born in Lievin France (d. 1975)
12 Jan 1903
Igor Kurchatov Soviet-Russian nuclear physicist who directed the Soviet atomic bomb project born in Sim Chelyabinsk Oblast Russia (d. 1960)
12 Jan 1905
Marie Paxton British stage and screen actress (Ouanga Kind Lady) born in London England (d. 1992)
12 Jan 1908
Clement Hurd American illustrator born in New York City (d. 1988)
12 Jan 1908
Jos Limn Mexican-American dancer and choreographer (The Moors Pavane I Odysseus) born in Culiacn Mexico (d. 1972)
12 Jan 1910
Tony Morabito American football executive (founder co-owner San Francisco 49ers) born in San Francisco California (d. 1957)
12 Jan 1916
Jay McShann American jazz pianist and bandleader born in Muskogee Oklahoma (d. 2006)
12 Jan 1917
Walter Hendl American conductor and composer born in West New York New Jersey (d. 2007)
12 Jan 1920
Mac Speedie American Pro Football HOF end (AAFC Cship 1946-1949 NFL Cship 1950 6 First-Team All-Pro Pro Bowl 1950 52 Cleveland Browns) born in Odell Illinois (d. 1993)
12 Jan 1921
John Davis American weightlifter (Olympic gold bantamweight 1948 heavyweight 1952) born in Smithtown New York (d. 1984)
12 Jan 1926
Morton Feldman American composer (For Philip Guston Rothko Chapel) born in New York City (d. 1987)
12 Jan 1928
Lew Gallo American character actor and screenwriter (Get Smart Gunsmoke 12 OClock High) born in Mount Kisco New York (d. 2000)
12 Jan 1930
Glenn Yarborough American folk singer and guitarist (Limeliters-Honey & Wine Jubilee) born in Milwaukee Wisconsin (d. 2016)
12 Jan 1931
Yao Wenyuan Chinese literary critic and politician (member of the Gang of Four) born in Zhuji Zhejiang Republic of China (d. 2005)
12 Jan 1932
John Berg American art director (Columbia Records 1961-85) winner of 4 Grammy Awards for album art born in Brooklyn New York (d. 2015)
12 Jan 1939
Jacques Hamelink Dutch writer and poet (Cold Unrest) born in Terneuzen Netherlands
12 Jan 1944
Jack Schroer American rock saxophonist (Van Morrisons The Caledonia Soul Orchestra) born in Ohio (d. 1995)
12 Jan 1946
Hazel Cosgrove Scottish lawyer and judge (1st Woman to College of Justice) born in Glasgow Scotland
12 Jan 1947
Henning Munk Jensen Danish soccer defender (62 caps PSV Eindhoven Aalborg BK 392 games Danish Player of the Year 1968 75) born in Tnder Denmark (d. 2023)
12 Jan 1959
Blixa Bargeld German singer and musician (Einstrzende Neubauten Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds) born in West Berlin West Germany
12 Jan 1959
Lasana M. Sekou Caribbean poet and author (The Salt Reaper) born in Aruba
12 Jan 1959
Per Helmstad Gessle Swedish pop singer (Roxette - Must Have Been Love) born in Halmstad Sweden
12 Jan 1483
Henry III of Nassau-Breda Dutch Stadholder of Holland and Zeeland (1515-1521) born in Siegen Nassau (d. 1538)
12 Jan 1580
Alexander Ruthven Scottish nobleman who attempted to kidnap King James born in Perth Scotland (d. 1600)
12 Jan 1591
Jusepe de Ribera Spanish painter and printmaker nicknamed Lo Spagnoletto the Little Spaniard born in Xtiva Spain (d. 1652)
12 Jan 1597
Franois Duquesnoy French sculptor (statue of Saint Andrew in the transept of St Peters) born in Brussels (d. 1643)
12 Jan 1711
Gaetano Latilla Italian opera composer born in Bari Kingdom of Naples (d. 1788)
12 Jan 1715
Jacques Duphly French composer and harpsichordist born in Rouen France (d. 1789)
12 Jan 1716
Antonio de Ulloa Spanish scientist general and the first Spanish Governor of Louisiana born in Seville Spain (d. 1795)
12 Jan 1721
Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick-Wolfenbttel German general during the Seven Years War born in Wolfenbttel Duchy of Brunswick-Lneburg (d. 1792)
12 Jan 1723
Samuel Langdon American college educator President of Harvard (1774-80) born in Boston Massachusetts (d. 1797)
12 Jan 1730
Johann Joachim Christoph Bode German bassoonist and composer born in Barum Electorate of Brunswick-Lneburg Holy Roman Empire (d. 1793)
12 Jan 1737
Brizio Petrucci Italian composer born in Massalom-barda Ravenna Papal States (d. 1838)
12 Jan 1751
Ferdinand I King of the Two Sicilies (1816-1825) and Naples born in Naples (d. 1825)
12 Jan 1772
Mikhail Speransky Russian reformer and advisor to Alexander I born in Cherkutino Russia (d. 1839)
12 Jan 1792
Johan August Arfwedson Swedish chemist who discovered the element lithium born in Skaraborg County Seden (d. 1841) [1]
12 Jan 1797
Gideon Brecher Austrian physician and Jewish writer born in Prossnitz Moravia (d. 1873)
12 Jan 1804
Hippolyte Monpou French organist and opera composer born in Paris France (d. 1841)
12 Jan 1814
Jones Mitchell Withers American soldier and Confederate Major General born in Huntsville Alabama (d. 1890)
12 Jan 1822
tienne Lenoir Belgian-French engineer and inventor built the first commercially combustion engine born in Mussy-la-Ville Belgium (d. 1900)
12 Jan 1825
Joseph Robert Davis American aide-de-camp and nephew to Confederate President Jefferson Davis born in Louisiana (d. 1896)
12 Jan 1832
Richard Waterhouse American soldier and Confederate general born in Rhea County Tennessee (d. 1876)
12 Jan 1837
Adolf Jensen German pianist composer and teacher born in Knigsberg Prussia (d. 1879)
12 Jan 1837
Carlos Troyer American composer born in Frankfurt German Confederation (d. 1920)
12 Jan 1870
Karel Burian (also Carl Burrian) Czech operatic tenor born in Rousnov Moravia Austro-Hungarian Empire (d. 1924)
12 Jan 1873
Spyridon Louis Greek athlete who won the 1st modern Olympics marathon in 1896 born in Marousi Greece (d. 1940)
12 Jan 1892
Mikhail Gurevich Russian aircraft designer co-founded Mikoyan-Gurevich military aviation bureau born in Rubanshchina Kursk Russia (d. 1976)
12 Jan 1893
Alfred Rosenberg German Nazi official who wrote Nazi idealogue The Myth of the Twentieth Century born in Reval Estonia Russian Empire (d. 1946)
12 Jan 1896
David Wechsler American psychologist who developed intelligence scales born in Lespezi Romania (d. 1981)
12 Jan 1897
Hendrik Valk Dutch painter cartoonist and graphic artist born in Zoeterwoude Netherlands (d. 1986)
12 Jan 1902
Simon Spoor Dutch army intelligence officer (WWII Indonesian National Revolution) born in Amsterdam Netherlands (d. 1949)
12 Jan 1910
Tony Morabito American football executive who founded and co-owned the San Francisco 49ers born in San Francisco California (d. 1957)
12 Jan 1912
Ivan Getting American physicist and engineer (developed Global Positioning System) born in New York City (d. 2003) [1]
12 Jan 1914
Edward Gurney American attorney and politician (US Senator for Florida 1969-74 US Representative for Florida 1963-69) born in Portland Maine (d. 1996)
12 Jan 1924
Jan Willem Radecker Dutch sculptor and son of John Raedecker born in Schoorl Netherlands (d. 2009)
12 Jan 1926
Ray Price American country music singer-songwriter and guitarist (For the Good Times Youre the Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me) born in Perryville Texas (d. 2013)
12 Jan 1929
Alasdair MacIntyre Scottish-American philosopher born in Glasgow Scotland
12 Jan 1935
Ron Harper American actor (Planet of the Apes (TV series) Wendy and Me) born in Turtle Creek Pennsylvania (d. 2024)
12 Jan 1935
The Amazing Kreskin [George Kresge] American mentalist born in Montclair New Jersey (d. 2024)
12 Jan 1944
Viktoria Postnikova Russian concert pianist born in Moscow Russia
12 Jan 1950
Dorrit Moussaieff Israeli jewelry designer and businesswoman born in Jerusalem Israel
12 Jan 1950
Ricky Ray Rector American criminal who murdered two people including a police officer in Alabama born in the United States (d. 1992)
12 Jan 1950
Sheila Jackson Lee American politician (US Representative from Texas 1994-2024) born in Queens New York City (d. 2024)
12 Jan 1951
Larry Hoppens American rock singer-songwriter and guitarist (Orleans - Still the One Dance With Me) born on Long Island New York (d. 2012)
12 Jan 1960
Dominique Wilkins American Basketball HOF forward (9 NBA All-Star 198694 NBA scoring champion 1986 NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion 1985 90 Atlanta Hawks) born in Paris France
12 Jan 1900
Vin Hannikainen Finnish harpist and composer born in Jyvskyl Grand Duchy of Finland Russian Empire (d. 1960)
12 Jan 1916
William Pleeth British cellist and teacher of Jacqueline du Pr born in London England (d. 1999)
12 Jan 1929
Alasdair MacIntyre Scottish-American philosopher (After Virtue) born in Glasgow Scotland (d. 2025) [1]
12 Jan 1930
Glenn Yarborough American pop-folk singer and guitarist (The Limeliters 1959-63 - A Dollar Down Red Roses and White Wine solo Baby the Rain Must Fall Jubilee) sailor and philanthropist born in Milwaukee Wisconsin (d. 2016)
12 Jan 1930
Jennifer Johnston Irish author (Shadows on Our Skin The Old Jest Fools Sanctuary) born in Dublin Ireland (d. 2025)
12 Jan 1933
Michael Aspel British television presenter (This is Your Life Antiques Roadshow) born in Battersea England
12 Jan 1942
Roger Ewing American actor (Thad Greenwood in Gunsmoke) born in Los Angeles California (d. 2025)
12 Jan 1944
Carlos Villagrn Mexican comedian and actor (El Chavo del Ocho El Chapuln Colorado) born in Santiago de Quertaro Mexico
12 Jan 1944
Vlastimil Hort Czechoslovak-born German chess grandmaster born in Kladno Czech Republic (d. 2025) [1]
12 Jan 1945
Juan Ramn Matta Ballesteros [Mata del Pozo] Honduran drug trafficker and power broker born near Tegucigalpa Honduras (d. 2025) [1]
12 Jan 1950
Randy Jones American baseball pitcher (NL Cy Young Award & MLB wins leader 1976 MLB All-Star 1975 76 San Diego Padres) born in Fullerton California (d. 2025)
12 Jan 1955
Rockne S. OBannon American television writer and producer (Farscape Defiance) born in Los Angeles California
12 Jan 1957
John Lasseter American animation director and film producer (Pixar 1986-2018) born in Hollywood California
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